§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the incidence of leukaemia in East Dorset during the last three years; how the figures compare with the national average for the incidence of leukaemia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information is shown in the tables. Great care should be taken in trying to draw any worthwhile conclusions from these figures.
The East Dorset data are based on relatively few cancer registrations; the age structure of the population also has to be considered. Both these factors can lead to differences between the local and national figures. After adjustment for the age structure, the standardised registration ratios for leukaemia in East Dorset are 136 for males and 117 for females, compared with 100 for each sex in England and Wales as a whole. The difference for males—between 136 and 100 — is larger than would normally be expected to arise from chance variations due to the small numbers of cases in East Dorset.
Examination of the age specific rates show that eight of the nine age groups for males and five of the nine age groups for females show higher rates in East Dorset than the corresponding rates for England and Wales as a whole. The main differences for males occur in the age groups 55 to 74. It is not possible to determine whether enhanced recognition and registration of leukaemia in East Dorset, or different diagnostic terms, account for any of the excess.
required by the medical royal colleges and faculties and the English National Board for Nurses, Midwives, and Health Visitors.
I am aware of reports that one health authority revised its training in practical techniques in CPR after an article reviewing the performance of 50 of its junior doctors. It is for health authorities with professional advice to provide such training to meet local needs of their staff.